Plateau State Police Committee Seeks Assembly Backing for Bill.

The Plateau State Advisory Committee on State Police has called for close collaboration with the Plateau State House of Assembly to establish the necessary legal framework for the implementation of state police in the state.

The committee, led by its Chairman and retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Habila Joshak, made the appeal during an advocacy visit to the State Assembly on Thursday in Jos.

Speaking during the visit, Joshak said Plateau State has faced complex security challenges over the years, making the establishment of state police a vital step toward strengthening security management, improving intelligence gathering, and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.

He noted that the committee is expected to serve as a reference point for other States across the federation as discussions on state policing continue nationwide.

According to him, the role of the State Assembly in achieving the objective cannot be overstated, stressing that lawmakers will be instrumental in providing the legal backing and careful legislative planning required for the successful implementation of the initiative.

Joshak urged members of the Assembly to support the process, emphasizing that state police would help address peculiar security concerns within communities and complement existing security structures.

Also speaking, a member of the committee, Professor Chris Kwajah, appealed to legislators to expedite action on the proposed legislation once presented, describing it as an opportunity to tackle persistent security challenges and address perceived gaps in the conventional policing system.

Kwajah maintained that a state police structure would enhance local intelligence gathering, improve response time to security threats, and strengthen community participation in maintaining law and order.

Responding, Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Naanlong Daniel, expressed the Assembly’s support for the state police initiative, noting that lawmakers have consistently advocated for its establishment.

According to the Speaker, the Assembly believes state policing will contribute significantly to ending the prolonged insecurity affecting parts of Plateau State and other regions of the country.

Daniel commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for demonstrating commitment toward addressing insecurity and supporting reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

He assured the committee of the legislature’s full cooperation and readiness to provide the necessary legislative support to ensure the success of the initiative.

The Speaker further stressed that security remains a collective responsibility and that all stakeholders must work together to achieve lasting peace across the state.

Members of the committee reiterated that the proposed state police structure would be inclusive and would serve all citizens equally, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.

They emphasized that fairness, professionalism, and accountability would be central principles guiding the operations of state police when eventually established.

The advocacy visit forms part of ongoing consultations by the committee aimed at building consensus among critical stakeholders ahead of the formal introduction and consideration of the state police bill in Plateau State.

The Plateau State Advisory Committee on State Police was constituted by Governor Caleb Mutfwang in March to facilitate the implementation of state policing and provide guidance on its operational framework.